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Bill

SB 945

Campaign finance; appeal of penalties.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bill DeSteph

Virginia SB 945 establishes appeals process allowing candidates and political committees to challenge campaign finance violations and penalties from the State Board of Elections.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0360)
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Bill Summary · SB 945

Legislative bill overview

SB 945 allows candidates and political committees in Virginia to appeal campaign finance violations and penalties imposed by the State Board of Elections. The bill creates a formal appeals process for those who believe they have been wrongly penalized or assessed fines for campaign finance violations.

Why is this important

Campaign finance enforcement directly affects political participation and fairness in elections. This bill addresses a procedural gap by giving political actors recourse if they believe penalties were applied incorrectly or unfairly, which could reduce disputes and ensure more consistent enforcement. However, it also potentially complicates the enforcement process and may delay penalties.

Potential points of contention

  • Enforcement delays: An appeals process could postpone penalty collection, potentially weakening enforcement of campaign finance laws
  • Burden on regulators: The State Board of Elections will need additional resources to review and adjudicate appeals, potentially slowing other regulatory functions
  • Substantive vs. procedural scope: Unclear whether appeals cover only procedural errors or allow full review of factual findings regarding actual violations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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